IN THE hope of providing a sustainable solution to the siege victims in Marawi City, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) toured a total of 200 internally-displaced persons (IDPs) to Davao region to be Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) trainers.
The tour was part of the Tesda’s trainers' training program held on August 26 to 30, 2018.
“Kaya napunta rito ang mga kapatid natin from Lanao del Sur (That is why our brothers from Lanao del Sur is here) Davao Region is a technical education and skills training hub of Mindanao,” Tesda director general Secretary Guiling “Gene” Mamondiong said during a press conference on Saturday, September 1, at the Grand Regal Hotel, adding that it is because of the socio-economic growth of the region which is parallel to that of Metro Manila.
The 200 IDPs were trained since Tesda believes that it would create a ripple-effect to the economic revolution in Lanao del Sur as a whole.
“The goal of the program is to multiply TVET trainers and produce programs relevant to the needs of the affected community,” Lorenzo Macapili, regional director of Tesda-Davao Region said.
He also said that the project was set to demonstrate competence on how to develop IDPs in Marawi into becoming agents of change once they get back to their homes.
Mamondiong said the IDPs should be taught skills for sustainability through the 200 trained trainers to train at least 70 other IDPs each and not just rehabilitate the place.
He also said that they chose Lanao del Sur because it is the poorest province in the country and so it will be the first to benefit the project.
Meanwhile, Gaspar Gayona, deputy director general of committee and local government unit (LGU) services, also said that Lanao del Sur is agricultural but the people are entrepreneurs, a potential setup to put up a business that produces its own crops.